A BUSINESSMAN is offering a free trip to 10 Downing Street for residents supporting the Observer's Hands Off Our Hospital campaign.

A BUSINESSMAN is offering a free trip to 10 Downing Street for residents supporting the Observer's Hands Off Our Hospital campaign.

Christopher Grieves, of Bamford, said he will lay on coaches for people on low income and pensioners who could not otherwise make their way to London to protest against planned cuts to services at the Infirmary.

Rochdale MP Paul Rowen last week invited the 'whole of Rochdale' to help him hand over thousands of petition signatures on Wednesday 12 April.

Almost 20,000 people so far have signed against plans to scrap maternity, neo-natal and children's services, as well as cut urgent accident and emergency care.

The 46-year-old property developer said he had signed the petition himself, but wanted to do something more to help the campaign.

His mother, Vera Grieves, who died on 31 January from chronic lung problems, had been admitted to Rochdale Infirmary regularly over the previous 10 years.

Mr Grieves, a father-of-four, said: "I'm in a position to do it and I'm trying to assist people who otherwise wouldn't go.

"I'm Rochdale born and bred and feel passionately about the town and I just wanted to help.

"The planned cuts are not in Rochdale's best interest and residents need the services at Rochdale Infirmary."

Mr Grieves said doctors, nurses and people associated with Rochdale Infirmary, such as hospital chaplain father Arthur Nearey, had helped his mother over the years.

He said: "For the last 10 years she had been going in hospital regularly, at least once a year.

"She had chronic lung problems mainly due to her history of working in local mills and, for many people in their late seventies with lung problems, if they got a cold, that would develop into something more complicated.

"She was ultimately admitted onto the Stonehill wards and the nurses and doctors were extremely kind to her and understood her problems.

"As someone who spoke extremely highly of and held Rochdale Infirmary in the highest regard, she would be pleased I would be supporting the campaign."

Anyone interested in booking their place should call Debra Abbott on 525360.